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Davidson College

N/A(0)
VerifiedPrivate (Not for Profit)Estd. 1837
Founded
1837
Type
Private (Not for Profit)
University Guide

About Davidson College

Explore overview, courses, fees, admissions, campus life, scholarships and student accommodation guidance in one premium Admistay guide.

Davidson College is a private college located in Davidson, North Carolina. The college was set up in 1837 by Presbyterians. The undergraduate enrollment at Davidson's is 1,839 and it has around 7% international students. The college has students from around 47 countries of the world. Davidson is ranked as one of the strongest and most selective liberal arts colleges in US with an acceptance rate of less than 20%. The college has a retention rate of 95% which is clearly an indicator of student satisfaction.

The college only offers bachelor’s degree programs to students. It offers 74 majors, minors and interdisciplinary programs. Some of the top disciplines include Africana Studies, Economics, Biology, English, Psychology, etc. Davidson also has 21 NCAA Division I sports teams. The institution takes pride in its alma mater and has produced 23 Rhodes Scholars till date. It has ranked at the 15th position in national liberal arts colleges in the U.S. News and World Report 2023.

Davidson College Campus

Every year, over 800 international student applications from students in more than 75 countries are received for admission at Davidson College. Therefore, 8% of the total student population represents international students from 50 countries.

Davidson College Rankings

Davidson is a popular college in the US. The latest rankings of Davidson College are given below:

U.S. News and World Report 2023

  • #15 in National Liberal Arts Colleges (tie)
  • #9 in Best Undergraduate Teaching (tie)
  • #11 in Best Value Schools
  • #6 in Most Innovative Schools
  • #173 in Top Performers on Social Mobility
  • #16 in Undergraduate Research/ Creative Projects
  • #13 in First-Year Experiences

Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2023

  • =59th in U.S. College Rankings 2023

Niche 2023 Best Colleges

The table given below shows ranking of Davidson College on various parameters in the U.S., North Caroline and Charlotte region:

Parameter Ranking in America Ranking in North Carolina Ranking in Charlotte region
Best Colleges #47 in 1,619 #3 out of 50 #1 out of 8
Best Christian Colleges #3 out of 362 #2 out of 23 -
Best Small Colleges #17 out of 978 #1 out of 31 -
Best Liberal Arts Colleges #17 out of 209 #1 out of 8 -
Best Value Colleges #48 out of 1,572 #2 out of 50 #1 out of 8

Highlights

University Type Private
Establishment Year 1837
Location Davidson, North Carolina
Campus Setting Suburban
Average Class Size 16
Student to faculty ratio 9:1
Annual Endowment 919.6 million USD (as of December 31, 2022)
Total Enrollment 1,843 enrolled, 51% male 48% female
International students 8%
Housing capacity 95%
Financial Aid Scholarships

Davidson College Campus

  • Davidson College has a 665-acre main campus and 110-acre lake campus.
  • The campus of the college is located 19 miles north of Charlotte in Davidson, North Carolina.
  • More than 200 clubs and organizations are run by students in college. Students can join clubs according to their area of interest, which may include academics, arts, civic engagement, culture, health, sports, media, geek life, performance groups, politics, religions, etc.
  • Various programs organized on-campus include community fairs, Wildcat welcome week, workshops, and training.
  • Davidson Outdoors offers students, faculty, and staff a variety of outdoor activities and courses throughout the year. There are trips organized which include kayaking and canoeing, backpacking, rock and mountain climbing.
  • The Leadership Fellows Program is the Center's signature program that hosts leadership series, conferences, and special workshops for students to be exposed to leadership education and development.

Davidson College Residence

  • There are 12 types of residence halls, 7 apartments and a co-op style house that provides on-campus accommodation to students.
  • 95% of the students live on-campus.
  • First-year students are mostly assigned Belk Hall, Little Hall, Watts Hall and Richardson Hall.
  • Students of the first-year are also given the option to change the assigned accommodation after the fall semester.
  • Students returning after spring select their room and roommate(s) by using the housing lottery.
  • The benefits of residential living are increased academic success, higher graduation rates, stronger interpersonal skills, and diverse ideas and cultures.
  • All residence halls are equipped with central air conditioning and heating, cable TV, wireless internet connection, secured, card-access entry, bicycle storage, laundry facility, etc.
  • Each room has long twin beds, dressers, desks and chairs, closets, wardrobe.

Davidson College Courses

  • Davidson offers 29 majors, 40 minors, and 14 interdisciplinary programs that provide broad exposure to diverse thought and in-depth exploration.
  • A few of the majors include Africana Studies, Anthropology, Applied Mathematics, Arab Studies, Art, Biology, Computer Science, Dance, etc.
  • Students have the choice of creating their own major through the Center for Disciplinary Studies.
  • More than 850 courses are offered by the college each year.
  • The College also offers 5 pre-professional programs including those in pre-medicine and pre-law.
  • 72% of the students participated in internships and research.
  • The college sponsors 10 programs worldwide at 79 approved locations and nearly 73% of students graduate with abroad experience.

Davidson College Application Process

Davidson College offers 2 rounds of early decision and a regular decision deadline for applicants. Admission decisions are released within 3-4 weeks from the application deadlines.

How to Apply?

The process and requirements for admission to Davidson College have been discussed below:

Application Portal: Common Application/ Coalition Application/ Davidson Online Application/ Paper Application

Application Fee: No application fee

Application Deadline: The deadlines for submission of application are as follows:

Decision Type Application Deadline
Early decision I December 15
Early decision II January 4
Regular decision January 11

Admission Requirements: The following documents are required to be submitted with the application for admission:

  • Early decision agreement (only required for students applying for early decision)
  • Common Application Writing Supplement (online)
  • Reports from secondary school
  • Mid-year school report
  • 2 recommendations from academic teachers (preferably a teacher of English, math, science, social studies or foreign language)
  • ACT or SAT scores (optional)
  • CSS profile for financial aid
  • Certificate of Finances
  • Proof of English language proficiency

English Language Requirements

International students are to submit English language proficiency test scores. Students can take the DET, IELTS, or TOEFL tests. These results are required to be sent either from the testing agency or your high school counselor. The university will not accept scores submitted directly from students or reported by themselves. The minimum requirements of these test scores are:

Test Minimum Requirements
IELTS 7.0
TOEFL – IBT 100
TOEFL - PBT 600
DET 120

Davidson College Cost of Attendance

All international students are advised to prepare an estimate of the cost of attendance for studying in the U.S. A summary of expenses for students planning to attend Davidson College in 2023-24 is given below:

Expense Item Amount
Student Charges (Tuition, Student Activity Fee) 55,000 USD
Accommodation Expenses (for standard double room) 7,700 USD
Meals (21 per week) (other plans also available) 7,525 USD
Total 70,225 USD

The housing rates may vary depending on the room type. The yearly cost for each room type has been tabulated below for reference:

Housing Type Cost for the Academic year 2023-24
Double 7,700 USD
Single/Suite 9,284 USD
Martin Court Apartment 9,626 USD
Triple 5,420 USD
Overflow Varies

Davidson College Scholarships/Financial Aid

  • Financial aid is limited and competitive in nature at Davidson College. Only 10% of the entering class receives merit scholarships.
  • Over 50% of the students receive need-based aid and the college tries to meet 100% need of students in the form of grants and student employment.
  • International students requiring financial assistance must apply at the time of applying for admission, within the given deadlines.
  • The amount awarded through merit scholarships ranges from 500 USD to the full cost of attendance.
  • Nomination scholarship is awarded to rank holders. To avail of this scholarship, a student must receive a nomination from the head of the school or college counselor. This scholarship covers the entire cost of attendance for students. The head or counselor can nominate up to 2 candidates for the Belk Scholarship, 3 candidates for Bryan, or Charles Scholarship.
  • Application scholarships are awarded to students who demonstrate interest in a particular subject area. These scholarships are renewable if students fulfill scholarship requirements, maintain GPA and make progress towards their degree.

Davidson College Alumni Network

  • Davidson connects over 25,000 alumni & families through a variety of formal & informal programs.
  • Every June, alumni celebrate five-year reunions on the Reunion Weekend and attend affinity reunions centered on Davidson's particular interests and activities. Alumni, families, and friends are welcomed for each fall for Wildcat Weekend.
  • Other benefits of the membership include:
    • Invitation to cultural events specially for members
    • Ticket priority for events conducted at the College
    • Subscription to monthly e-news “Friends of the Arts”
    • Volunteering opportunities
    • Career services
  • Notable Alumni Include:
    • Roxanne Beckford - Actress
    • Peyton Aldridge - Basketball player
    • James Batten - CEO of Knight Riders

Davidson College Placements

Davidson College does the maximum recruiting process through its online platform. Engaging with students over coffee conversation is an informal way to start the basic interaction offered through Davidson. For formal meetings, organizations can be given the option to conduct on-campus information sessions, virtual sessions, webinars, skill-building workshops, etc. Also, there are on-campus interviews, career fairs, etc. organized by the college to help students find suitable jobs in the U.S. where students directly meet the recruiters.

93% of the graduates of the class of 2022 were employed within 6 months from graduation. The college has a 4-year graduation rate of 91%. Top employer industries of the college’s graduates include education, library, archives, healthcare, financial services, insurance, technology, engineering, math, civic, social, or community service and government, policy, law.

The key employers at Davidson have been Massachusetts General Hospital, National Institutes of Health, Peace Corps, Bank of America, Microsoft, Federal Reserve Bank, Deloitte, Teach for America, McKinsey and Company, Amazon, Accenture and many more. The median starting salary of graduates of the college is 52,300 USD.

Some of the notable colleges where graduates enroll for further studies include Carnegie Mellon University, Columbia University, Duke University, University of Michigan, University of Notre Dame, etc.

FAQs

Ques. What is the acceptance rate at Davidson College?

Ans. The acceptance rate at Davidson was only 20% for enrollment in fall 2024.

Ques. Is it hard to get into Davidson College?

Ans. The acceptance rate at Davidson College is quite low which means that getting into Davidson is quite difficult.

Ques. What is the graduation rate at Davidson?

Ans. The graduation rate at Davidson College is 91%.

Ques. Does Davidson College conduct interviews?

Ans. No. Davidson College does not conduct interviews as a part of the application process.

Ques. Do you need to submit SAT/ACT Scores?

Ans. Davidson College has adopted a test-optional policy beginning in Fall 2023. Applicants are not required to submit SAT or ACT scores for admission.

Ques. What is the average GPA at Davidson?

Ans. With a GPA of 3.93, Davidson College requires you to be at the top of your class.

Ques. Is there any advantage of applying early?

Ans. Yes. Applicants who apply early have higher chances of being admitted under the early decision plan than the regular decision.

Ques. What is the tuition for Davidson College?

Ans. The tuition fee for students attending Davidson in 2023-24 is 55,000 USD.

Ques. What does the residence life at Davidson look like?

Ans. 95% of students live on campus. First-year students are required to live on campus. The college has 19 residence halls that comprise traditional dorms, suite-style accommodation and single rooms.

Courses & Fees

Compare courses in a cleaner, easier way

Explore tuition, duration, language, eligibility, and exam requirements without the clutter.

Courses

19

Fee from

₹63,20,961.3

Exams

IELTS · TOEFL

Showing 5 of 19 bachelors

Overview
Degree TypeBachelor
Duration4 years
Study ModeFull Time
LanguageEnglish
Fees
Tuition FeeINR 59.5 L/Yr
Native FeeUSD 63,580 /Yr
Fee trendTuition progression
Official Program Page
Admission Guide

Admission Process

Davidson college offers admissions at an acceptance rate of 19% which certainly denotes a selective inclusion of admission. Considering the low acceptance rate of the college and ease of securing a seat, it is recommended that applicants strictly follow the guidelines and fulfill all requirements appropriately in order to avoid rejection due to technicalities.

Davidson College offers programs at the undergraduate level inclusive of 29 major programs, 40 minors. These programs also include interdisciplinary programs, having 14 minor interdisciplinary courses. The college has a total enrolment of 1,837 students enrolled in undergraduate programs from across the globe.

Some admission-poinrers for Davidson college are as follows:

  • From the fall of 2023, the college has decided to take the SAT/ACT scores optional during the admission process. However, homeschooled applicants will still be required to submit them.
  • Students are willing to submit SAT/ACT scores, they may self-report their scores to the college before the deadline.
  • The college takes in admissions for the spring and the fall session, each semester is 15 weeks long.
  • It is recommended that applicants submit the applications by November 2 to increase the chances of admission.

Highlights

Application Portal Online
Application Fee N/A ( For International Students) 
Average Sat Score 1290-1450
Average Act Score 29-33
Seasons Of Intake Fall, Spring 
Mode Of Payment Online
Academic Calendar Semester Based Calendar 
Financial Aid Loans, Grants And Scholarships
Acceptance Rate 19%

Davidson College Admission Deadlines

Applicants must ensure that the application forms are duly filled and submitted by the following dates :

Application Round Application And Financial Aid Deadline
Early Decision 1 November 15
Early Decision 2 January 4
Regular Decision January 11

Davidson College International Student Admissions

Davidson college receives approximately 800 applications from across 75 countries. It is reported that 80% of the community comes from more than 50 countries. The admission process is similar for both domestic and international students. However, certain additional requirements have to be fulfilled in case of international students:

Admission portal: International candidates must apply for the undergraduate programs in either of the four modes:

  • Common Application
  • Coalition Application
  • Online Davidson Application
  • Paper Application by downloading PDF

Application Fee: Not Applicable for International Students

Admission requirements: The following documents and details must be submitted by international applicants :

  • A complete application form
  • A sealed and signed copy of your official high school transcripts
  • List of external or co-curricular activities
  • Scores of Standardized Exams to study in the USA
  • Information about parent/ legal guardian- employment status, occupation, education level
  • Letters of recommendation
  • Certificate of finance
  • English proficiency test scores
  • Personal essay
  • An application video demonstrating English communication skills if not appear for interview

Students must mail the official documents at :

[email protected]
phone: 800-768-0380
box 7156-admission
Davidson, NC 28035

English Proficiency Test Score For International Students

International applicants who do not have English as their first language are required to submit scores of English proficiency in order to be considered for admission. The college accepts scores from several tests like the TOEFL, IELTS and Duolingo(DET).

Test Name Minimum Score Required
TOEFL 100 IBT or 600 PBT
IELTS 7
DET 120

Please note that the students failing to attend the admission interview events must submit an application video demonstrating communication skills in the English language.

Exemption:

Students fulfilling the following criterion can be exempted from presenting English proficiency scores :

  • Students hailing from countries where English is an official language
  • Scored at least 670 in the reading and writing section of the SAT examinations
  • Have been a part of an English based curriculum for at least 4 years
  • Students who are taking English as a subject at the IB diploma

Visa Process For International Students

International students are allowed to apply for a student F-1 visa to study in the USA just after filling out the application form. The visa applicants will be provided with an I-20 form that will be required to obtain the visa. The following steps must be followed carefully and appropriate documents must be submitted :

  • The I-20 form that will be issued is a permit for entering the country, that has to be retained for checking at customs;
  • In order to proceed further, students must submit the SEVIS fee and retain the receipt to produce it later for checking
  • You can then schedule a visa interview at your US embassy;
  • During pre-orientation, the college will provide you with a printed copy of the I-94 form, this must be retained to produce at customs and borders;

The following documents must be kept handy at the time of admission:

  • A valid passport
  • An I-20 form
  • A printed receipt of the SEVIS payment
  • Proof of evidence with the home country
  • Financial records

Davidson College Undergraduate Admissions

The college provides more than 70 courses at the undergraduate level besides providing pre-professional program training. The courses are offered in programs like anthropology, applied mathematics, biology, communication skills, computer science, educational studies etc.

Where to apply: Students can apply via the online portal of the university.

Application fee: not required for international students

Admission requirements: the following requirements must be fulfilled by the students in order to be considered for admission:

  • Fill the online application form
  • Official transcripts of Secondary school report/ Mid-year report with its official English translation
  • Standardized Test Scores (SAT/ ACT – optional)
  • Proof of English Language Proficiency Scores
  • Personal Statement/ Essay
  • Letters of Recommendation

Davidson College has presented a very open approach towards admitting international students like cancellation of admission fee and scholarships to help them financially. The selection board emphasizes on criteria like rigor, involvement and leadership, testing, writing ability and personal impact while shortlisting applications. If the co-curricular side of an applicant is strong, it acts as an added bonus during the application process. Your application can also be tracked at your profile page on the original website of the page. The college also provides help with regional counsellors in order to provide assistance with admission related queries.

FAQs

Ques. Am I required to submit Letters of Recommendation for admissions?

Ans. Yes. Davidson University requires applicants to submit Letters of Recommendation for admission.

Ques. How many LOR should I submit?

Ans. Candidates must submit Two Letters of Recommendation (Academic). Applicants can take recommendations from junior or senior teachers of English, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies or Foreign Language.

Ques. Is submission of Standardized Test Scores SAT/ ACT necessary?

Ans. No. Davidson University has made it optional test policy for students to submit Standardized Test Scores of SAT/ ACT. However, students can also submit the scores if necessary.

Ques. How can I Review My Application Status?

Ans. Candidates can review their application status by logging into the application portal.

Ques. What are the conditions for English Language Proficiency score waive off?

Ans. Davidson University will waive off the English Language scores for the following students:

  • The candidate is from a country where English is the official language.
  • Have completed their studies in an English based curriculum for 3 to 4 years of high school
  • The candidates have scored 670 or higher on the Evidence-Based Reading or Writing Section in SAT.
  • Applicants who meet the following requirements must send an email to [email protected] with “English Proficiency Waiver” as the subject line.

Ques. Should I also submit my original documents along with the photocopy?

Ans. No. Candidates are not required to submit original documents. They must upload the scanned copy of the documents in the Application portal.

Ques. Do in need to submit a Resume?

Ans. No. Davidson University does not require a Resume or Personal Statement for undergraduate admissions.

Ques. Do I need to submit Personal Statement?

Ans. Yes. Candidates must submit Informative essay as personal Statement for admission.

Placements & Recruiters

Davidson College Placement Details

Davidson College in Davidson, North Carolina, United States placement details include salary insights, top recruiters, and hiring trends to help students understand career outcomes and campus opportunities.

Students usually compare highest package, average package, and recruiter profile before applying. This section gives a compact overview of career outcomes and placement visibility in Davidson, North Carolina, United States.

Recruiters
N/A
Salary Metrics
0/2
Placement Metric

Highest Package

N/A

Represents the top salary package reported in the available placement information.

Placement Metric

Average Package

N/A

Shows the typical package range students may expect based on the available average salary data.

Placement information is currently limited.

More salary or recruiter data may be updated later for this college.

Rankings over the years

Year-wise highlights from global and country rankings available for this university.

2019

Highlights
2019
  • Best overall country rank: #45
  • Overall: #45 in country
  • Top source: FORBES
  • 1 ranked streams
  • Focus areas: Overall
  • 2 ranking records in 2019

Contact Information

405 N Main St, Davidson, NC 28035

+1-704-894-2000